Background

Global development faces serious challenges such as climate change, ecosystem degradation, biodiversity loss, natural disasters, food security, and poverty, severely threatening global sustainable development. To address these challenges, the international community has actively taken measures to promote the achievement of the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In 2021the Government of China proposed the Global Development Initiative to assist in realizing the SDGs by enhancing international cooperation, promoting balanced and sustainable development, and encouraging concrete actions to build a community with a shared future for humankind.

Forests are the main body of the terrestrial ecosystems and the eco-shelter and fundamental basis of global sustainable development that help conserve water, bring economic benefits, boost food production, and serve as a carbon sink. Sustainable forest management is essential not only for protecting terrestrial ecosystems but also for sustainable economic and social development and human well-being.

Over the years, the international community has made remarkable progress in sustainable forest management, halting deforestation, and restoring forestlands. The 26th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Climate Change adopted the Glasgow Leaders' Declaration on Forests and Land Use, pledging to strengthen sustainable forest management, curb deforestation, accelerate forest restoration, and reverse forest loss. However, the trend of deforestation has not been substantially reversed, and the multiple functions of forest ecosystems have not yet been fully realized. Though greatly concerned by the international community, sustainable forest management is an arduous global task with a long way to go.

To promote sustainable forest management to contribute to global development, the Government of China has proposed the establishment of the Global Network for Sustainable Forest Management (GFN) at the High-Level Dialogue on Global Development held in June 2022 as one of the 32 deliverables of the Dialogue.

Mission and Objectives

■  Mission

GFN aims to advance the Global Development Initiative, accelerate the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, promote global green, low-carbon, and sustainable development, and build harmony between man and nature by globally promoting sustainable forest management.

■  Objectives

· To strengthen the global sustainable management of forests, promote forest protection and restoration, slow down forest loss, reduce deforestation and forest degradation, protect biodiversity, and address climate change;

· To advocate synergy between protection and development, and balance between  livelihoods and eco-conservation, improve the economic, social, and ecological functions of forests, and serve the global green and low-carbon transition development;

· To promote international forestry cooperation, increase demonstration and extension of good practices, promote synergy of forest policies, improve management capacity, and strengthen information sharing to achieve common development;

· To support and promote new development models in the forestry sector to increase forest quality and income and promote the coordinated development between forestry and rural revitalization to improve livelihoods.

Implementation means

■  Demonstration projects Carry out demonstration projects to showcase and promote good practices and development models;

■  Policy dialogue Set up platforms and explore channels to conduct policy exchanges and conversations comprehensively for policy synergies;

■  Capacity building Carry out capacity building through such as scholarships, visiting scholars, training courses, and joint research programs; 

■  Information sharing Build exchange mechanisms to promote the sharing of basic information, research results, policy dynamics, international trends, experience, and best practices.

Potential partnerships 

GFN is open to all countries, especially the members of the Group of Friends of the Global Development Initiative, and welcomes the participation of international institutions.

Operation mechanism

Asia-Pacific Network for Sustainable Forest Management and Rehabilitation (APFNet) is entrusted with operating the GFN as a program.

Financing mechanism

The Government of China will provide financial support for the GFN. Meanwhile, efforts will be made to seek financial support from other governments, enterprises, civil society groups, relevant UN agencies, and international organizations.